Sound-box for talking-machines.



B. R. JOHNSON. SOUND BOX FOR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 13017.12. 1904.

PATENTED AUG. 14, '1906.

ELDRIDGE R.' JOHNSON, OF MERION, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO VICTORTALKING MACHINE CO JERSEY.

MPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW SOUND-BOX FOR' TALKING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1906,

Application filed November 12" 1904. Serial No. 232,391.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELDRIDGE R. JoriNsoN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Merion, county of Montgomery, State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements inSound-Boxes for Talking-Machines, of which the following is a full,clear, and complete disclosure.

In the reproduction of sound from talkingmachine records, either of, thetype having vertical undulations in the record-grooves or of the typehaving horizontal undulations in the said groove, it is well ,known thatmany sounds are reproduced which are due to imperfections in theconstruction and dis osition of the parts of the talking-mac ine.

One of the most serious of these undesirable sounds I have-found to bedue to the comparatively stiff and short connection hitherto employedbetween the end of the stylus-bar and the diaphragm. This connectiontends to oscillate about the center of the oscillation of thestylus-bar, and therefore delivers the vibrations to the diaphragm atconstantlyvarying angles to the plane of the diaphragm, dependent uponthe position of the stylusbar at any particular moment.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction in which a longandflexible connection may be used between the end of the stylus-bar andthe diaphragm, so that the angle which said connection subtends as thestylus-bar oscillates will be greatly reduced and that the connectionwill bend or be flexi ble to transmit the vibrations in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the diaphragm irrespective of theposition of the stylus-bar in its oscillation about its fulcrum.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction in whichsuch long and flexible connection may be applied to soundboxesconstructed and'arranged in the ordinary manner. For a full, clear, andexact description of one embodiment of my invention reference ma be hadto the following specification an to the accompanying drawings, forminga part thereof, in which Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectionalview of a sound-box embodying my improvement, and Fig, 2 is a similarview showing the diaphragm, and stylus-bar separated from the sound-box.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the tubular portionof the soundbox casing, which is adapted to be connected with thesound-conveying means or amplify- I ing-horn, and 2 the outercylindrical part of the casing thereof. The tubular portion 1 terminatesin a disk-shaped portion 3, between which and the end of the cylindricalcasing 2 the diaphragm 4 is retained, suitable gaskets 5 being insertedbetween said diaphragm and the adjacent portions of the casing.

The stylus-bar 6 is fulcrumed upon the cylindrical portion of the casing2 in .any well-. known manner and has the stylus or needle 7 removablyretained in its outer end. At the center of the diaphragm 8 I form anoffset by providing the diaphragm with a small circular opening, throughwhich projects a cylindrical or cup-shaped piece of metal 9, having anannular flange 10 at one end thereof, said.

annular flange contacting with and be ng secured to the outer side ofthe diaphragm 4. Said cu and flange are preferably stamped or spun iilight as is consistent with strength and durability. To the center ofthe end of the cupshaped offset 9 I attach a small wire 11 or othersuitable flexible connecting means, the opposite end. of which issecured to the inner end of the stylus-bar 6, in this instance by meansof the screw 12. It will now be seen that when sounds are beingreproduced from the record the stylusbar 6 will be vibrated in the usualmanner, and said vibrations will be transmitted to the diaphragm 4 atall times perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm, whether thevibrating end of the stylus-bar to which the connection is secured be onone or the other side of its normal position.

- Owing to the extension of the cup-shaped protion 9, the flexible wireconnection 11 may be made much longer than is possible when saidconnection is'attached directly to the centerof the diaphragm, thusallowing said connection to subtend a smaller angle and to om thin sheetmetal and are made as l bend more easily to accommodate itself to mentpfparts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; but

What I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is i 1. In a sound-box for talking-machines, the combinationwith a stylus-bar, of a diaphragm, a small oflset located on saiddiaphragm and extending in a direction away from said stylus-bar and aconnecting-piece between said stylus-bar and said offset the saidconnecting-piece being free to flex out of its axis at any point betweenits connecting ends.

1 2. In a sound-box for talking-machines, the combination with astylus-bar, of a diaphragm, an offset located at the center of saiddiaphragm and extending in a direction away from said stylus-bar and aflexible 'con,

nection between said stylus-bar and said offset the said connectionbeing free to flex out of its axis at any point between its connectingends. 4

3. In a sound-box for talking-machines, the combination with adiaphragm, of a stylus-bar on one side of said diaphragm, aflexibleconnection carried by said stylus -bar and means to secure said flexibleconnection to said diaphragm at a point on that side of the diaphragmopposite to that on which said stylusbar is located the said connectionbeing free to flex out of its axis between its points if contact withsaid diaphragm and stylus- 4. In a sound-box for a talking-machine, thecombination with a stylus-bar, of a diaphragm provided with an opening,a hollow ody located in said opening with one of its ends secured tosaid diaphragm and with its other end located on that side of thediaphragm opposite to that on which said styus-bar is located, and aconnection between said stylus-bar and said body the said connectionbeing free to flex out of its axis between its connecting ends.

5. In a sound-box for a talking-machine, the combination with astylus-bar, of a diathe combination with a stylus-bar, of a diaphragmprovided with a small central aperture, a light hollow body having aflan ed opening at one end and closed at the ot er end, the flanged openend being secured to the edge of said aperture and the closed end beinglocated on that side of the diaphragm opposite to that on which saidstylus-bar is located, and a connection between said styhis-bar and theclosed end of said body.

7. In a sound-box for talking-machines, the combination with astylus-bar, of a diaphragm provided with a small central aperture, alight hollow body flanged at one end and closed at the other end, theflanged end being open and secured to the edge of said a erture and theclosed end being located on t at side of the diaphragm o posite to thaton which said stylus-bar is ocated, and a flexible connection betweensaid stylus-bar and the closed end of said body,

8. In a sound-box for talking-machines, the combination with a planediaphragm, a stylus-bar, a light hollow body secured to the centralportion of sa d diaphragm and a straight flexible connection betweensaid stylus-bar and said body, said connection being longer than thedistance between the end of the stylus-bar and the lane of the diaphragmand being free to ex out of its axis.-

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day ofNovember, A. D. 1904.

ELDRIDGE R. JOHNSON.- Witnesses:

JOHN T. GRADY. HoRAoE PETTIT.

